Published: 7 Feb 2010
The Maritime Union of Australia and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have responded to a call for solidarity from dock workers in the US Pacific island of Guam with the following joint declaration.
JNT ILWU/MUA SOLIDARITY WITH GFT
To: Matt Rector
President
GFT, Guam's Local Union
AFT Local 1581, AFL-CIO
By email: mrector@gftunion.com
cc: Guam Ports Board of Director
Dear Brother Rector,
On behalf of the Dockers' Section of the International Transport Workers' Federation and dock workers of Australia and the US West Coast, we pledge our solidarity in support of your struggle for wage justice, job security, job safety and a roster allowing workers dignity, respect and time for family and community commitments.
We support your struggle to prevent the Republican governor's plans to privatise the port and condemn management's wasting public resources on hired guns, attorneys and executive salaries while refusing to negotiate for a living wage for the men and women who work around the clock - all too often in unsafe conditions - loading and unload the shipments passing through the port.
Please relay our solidarity to your members in their struggle and let them know they are not alone.
Yours in unity
Paddy Crumlin,
National Secretary
Maritime Union of Australia
Chair of the International Transport Workers' Federation Dockers Section
Robert McEllrath
International President
International Longshore and Warehouse Workers’ Union
2nd Vice-Chair
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
Coordinator
West Coast Zone and Pacific Rim
International Dockworkers Council (IDC)
Join the solidarity action campaign and support the workers of Guam
